Actuated figure



July 25, 1933. s. B. ALLEN 1,919,188

ACTUATED FIGURE Filed June 1931 INVENTOR.

Jad /(W A TTORNEYS Patented July 25, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STRATFOBD\B. ALLEN, OF ABLINGT OlV, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO EVERETT E. KENT, OF NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS ACTUATED FIGURE Application filed June 11,

This invention relates to improvements-in actuated figures.

More particularly it relates to electro-me chanically animated figures, such as dolls, or the like. The animating current maybe under any suitable control. In one embodiment it may be acoustically controlled, actuation of the figure depending upon sounds received. Using this embodiment for explanation, as here illustrated, this invention provides a figure, as for example a' grotesque ointed figure, which is so constructed and so mounted and actuated that it responds by starting into action when the sound of music is heard, as, for example, by beginning to dance.

In efforts heretofore made to produce this result it has been thought necessary to connect apparatus to the electrical system which actuates a loud speaker or the like, by which a current of audio frequency actuates electrical apparatus which is supposed to actuate the figure. But none of the apparatus produced for this method of operation has been successful, so far as I am aware; and the pres- 0 cut invention approaches the problem from the totally different direction of receiving its initiation acoustically, instead of electrically, or, it may be receiving some'form of physical vibration which is other than sonorous, but which, in the form of the invention here illustrated, is first detected and becomes operative in the mechanism in the form .of

physical vibrations of a solid body through space, or of a plurality of solid bodies more J or less interacting. In the latter case, where these bodies oscillate with a difference of period and with a difference of amplitude of vibration or of throw, an irregularly occurring beat or vibratory kick is produced which is slow'enough in period to constitute a control of means eifective for moving the limbs of the dancing body ina manner simulating realism. While electricity is used in the transmission andactuation of the apparatus, preferably with a make and break circuit, or with pronounced.undultions, the electrical circuit and electrical operation is very differ- ,ent from that which is found in thetran'smission of sound by electricity or in the use of thermionic tubes; and the necessary or desired spring embodied in many forms,

1931. Serial No. 543,561.

- amplification is obtained by electro-mechaninotably low cost of apparatus, sturdiness of construction, and great durability result, as well asthe actuating advantages above stated, which make-the invention as a whole capable of being manufactured and marketed at a .Very low price.

It is one feature of the invention that by the construction by which the figure is supported and-actuated the electric current does not serve the function of supporting the figure, but merely of actuating it; and yet that, at the same time, the mechanical supporting means contributes to the motivated response, as regards direction and amplitude of motions of the figure, and thus amplifies and makes more fascinating the actuation which would result from the simple effect of the electric current alone.

These results are attained by providing the figure, which as here represented for illustrating the invention is a figure in the grotesque form of light wooden body with arms and legs jointed loosely, with counter balancing means herein shown as a spring support which is capable of holding the whole figure in such position that the feet fall by gravity to a certain level where 0 they are within the stroke of a bouncing section of floor which is immediately under them and which is capable of delivering an upward stroke to the feet,-if it happens that the feet are at the moment within position to receive such stroke,these strokes occurring at regular intervals, or as may be determined by the control portion of the apparatus. The upward stroke upon the feet lifts, to a certain extent, the load which is being carried by the support of the figure, therefore the figure as awhole rises and becomes animated from top to toe with a free and irregular activation which results from the interaction of the impulses of the bouncing floor and the elastic efi'ect of the spring support.

The apparatus of the invention may be one of which is herein shown for illustrating the principles a man and consisting of a 7 I of the invention by means of the in drawing, in which,

igure 1 shows acoustic apparatus, for receiving and responding to sound vibrations derived through the alr, and for extracting therefrom occasional impulses at a frequency far less than audio frequency of vibration, this being in side .elevation andin medial section;

Figure 2 is a face elevation of the same; an

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the apparatus as a whole, including the dancing figure, its actuating apparatus more or less in diagram, and the operating connections.

In the drawing the reference character 100 indicates a fixed support of a suitable sort, usually portable, on which the Figure 1 is sustained by a rather flexible spring 2. The figure is of such design as may be desired and accomp anyin the present instance is that of a man made of wood or of other suitable light material, with joints at the shoulders, sides and knees; the feet being set stiffly on the lower legs, so that when a foot is kicked upward or forward the figure bends at the knee, and consequently at the thigh. The figure being in equilibrium, with the spring 2 sustaining its weight, an upward thrust on the feet lets the spring 2 lift the whole body higher, and this motion, with the interplay of inertia of the body and arms, sets the figure into motion in all of its parts. l

The spring has a horizontal extent and also a vertical extent from its base in post 100 to a point where it is attached to the figure, which in this instance is arranged by forming a deep depression or 'U on the free end of which the figure is attached; and thepoint of attachment is in the midst of the back of the figure, about the middle of its body portion, so that a substantial part of the figure is above the point of attachment, although the center of gravity of the whole is below it. In'consequence the figure not only can move up and down, but also can throw its body from its normal slight forward inclination to an inclination slightly backward, when suitably impelled from below.

A simulation 103 of a floor may be provided, which may conveniently be the front of a small cabinet 99 containing the apparatus ,later to be described and supporting the fixed support 100; and at the approximate level of this floor there is a bouncing section 3, which may also simulate the floor in appearance, but which really is mounted on an extension 4 of an armature 104 of an electro-magnet 5. This extension serves the double purpose of strengthening the electro-magnct and of extending the armature to a position which is convenient for holding the said bouncing section, for its ooaction with the figure 1', and especially with the feet of that figure. It strengthens the magnet because by running alongside the spool of convolutions to the anchored end thereof it provides additional path for magnetic flux. The magnet 5 is set with its core vertical, and with its armature 104 moving vertically; and the extension of the armature which has the bouncing section 3 also moves vertically, or at least with a vertical component, while it also has a lateral component of motion, so that in fact, moving about the place 106 where the armature is anchored, it has a motion upward to the left, in Figure 3, at an angle of about 45 from th vertical, in which direction it delivers a sharp blow whenever the armature 104: is attracted by the magnet 5 and whenever any part of the Figure 1 is in position to receive such blow. Coo rating in this are ridges 107 on the bouncing section, and there may be corrugations or angles 108 on the under side of the feet of the Flgure 1, The providing of these angles results in a particularly violent blow whenever one of the ridges happens to strike back of the heel, while the effect of the blow is less violent if the ridge happens to strike a part of the other surface of the foot, according to the v For the action of armature 104 an 0rdinary fixed stop 7 and vibrating contact spring 6 provide an interrupting switch in a constant current from battery 12. The spring 6 is prolonged and carries at its end a Wei ht 110 which by its inertia modifies the perlod of vibration of the spring 6, and which can itself be changed in position or by substitution of another size, as may be desired for getting a particular efi'ect.

The current for this vibrating system is controlled by a master circuit containing the closed-circuit relay 8, the tip of whose armature 9 has contact A which swings upward against contact A on stop arm 10 whenever current fails in its magnet 11, and thereupon the main current can passfrom the battery 12 through the relay switch contacts A, A, stop arm 10 and wires to make the break, 7, 6, of the main electro-magnet 5, and through that magnet back to the battery. The electro-magnt 11 of the relay 8 may preferably be of relatively high resistance,

.as for exampie about 500 ohms to operate or indeed, of tremors fully the left of Figure 3 and shown more in Figure 1, where there are contacts which constitute the acoustic switch. In this acoustic'switch a vibratory plate or diaphragm 13 is mounted so as to receive sound waves through the air, and to vibrate tremulously in response to sound waves whether reaching it through air or other medium; and this plate carries in its middle portion the contact B. This vibration will naturally be at'audio frequency, or at whatever frequency tremors are received.

The contact B is mounted on the free end of a light flexible strip or leaf spring 14 whose setting and path of vibration are such that the contact B when at rest, lies against the contact B. The spring 14 and its loading 114 are such that the contact B has a period of vibration lower than that of the contact B. Adjustment of the at-rest or zero position of the contact B can be had by means of the screw 15 and the adjustment spring 16, for moving the spring 1e toward or from the diaphragm 13.

In operation, the contact B being set lightly against the contact B, and the latter being atrest, a current flows from the battery 12 through the contacts B, B and spring 14 and relay 11 back to the battery, holding armature 9 with its point A away from A, so that an extremely small current which does not deplete the battery much is flowing through the relay 11 and no current is flowing through the electromagnet 5. When the diaphragm 13 begins to vibrate, due to the receipt of sound vibration through the air, from any source and through any medium as for example through its physical support, the oscillation of the point B knocks the point B away from it and out of contact, thus interrupting the current through the relay 11. The vibratory return of the contact B may restore the electrical connection, but as this contact has only a low period of vibration the intervals between contacts would become relatively considerable, particularly when the intensity of the received sounds has risen so that the smartness of the blows drives the contact B or keeps it away for a longer time, thus reducing the portion of elapsed time during which current is flowing through the relay 11. This reduction is not dependent upon the cycle or period of vibration of any particular note which may be received through the air upon the diaphragm 13, but

rather upon the intensity of the received sound. With the less current flowing through the relay 11, the armature 9 rises from the relay and makes the contact A which lets a current pass through the electro-' magnet 5 and vibrates the bouncing floor 3.

As the undulations of sound loudness vary,

- there may often be'temporary restorations of power of the relay to draw its armature 9 any and to break the circuit A, with restoration again at visual intervals. These intervals, however, may be so close as to be not observable except upon most careful observation. They produce the effect of still further departure from the vibrations of the dancing figure having a mechanical aspect. By striking the feet of Figure 1, the bouncing floor 3 upsets the equilibrium of the said figure, causing it to bob up and down, the jointed legs to swing, and generally to produce the semblance of a dance, which is roughly in time to the beat or variation in sound level or intensity of the actuating music, otherwise called rhythm.

The transmitter indicated by the diaphragm assembly 120, which is the ear or acoustic device which controls the electromechanical action of the figure, may be hung near or behind a piano, or may rest upon one. Also, it may hang in or near a phonograph or a radio receiving set, without requiring electrical connection therewith, or it may be used as a voice pick-up to operate on speech or music made elsewhere in the room, so that talking or singing into the transmitter would cause the figure to dance.

Provision may be made for suitable adjustment of the parts relative to'each other so as to produce the best or any desired operating etfect, and the drawing illustrates conventional'means to this end. Thus by raising the post 100 the relation between the bouncing floor 3 and the level at which the feet of the figure come to rest can be changed. To vary the timing of the make and break the weight 110 can be moved. The'acoustic switch can be hung ata desired location for receiving sound, by supporting hook 121 or may stand on a table at its base 122, the wires which connect it with the cabinet being in a cord 124 so that it will not be infinaphragm 13 and spring 14, and their respec tive contacts. It will be observed that whatever may be the pitch of the sound vibrations registered in the diaphragm they will be of an order recurring far more frequent- 1y than do the vibrations of the contact point B, and that the effect is, to deliver repeated blows of contact B against contact B, driving off the latter, and letting currents flow through the re ay 11 only upon thereturn of the latter and during the brief times of the re-contacts. Inasmuchas a change of amplitude of vibration, resulting from the hearing of a louder sound, is not supposed to change the rate of vibration, and inasmuch as all audio frequency vibrations of the diaphra m 13 are alike of an order much more rapi than vibrations of the spring 14, it

might be thought that'the hearing of music would not produce the effects stated, for the contact B might be expected to return and make a re-contact in the same period of time whatever the softness or the loudness of the music, and without any practical difference, whatever may be its pitch. But I explain the observed result by reasoning that whether the amplitude of .vibration'of contact B be small or large, the actual physical distance through which B and B are in contact and before B. is thrown off again is probably approximately the same whether the amplitude be small or large, but that when the amplitude is large this physical distance is a smaller proportion of the total are of travel between contacts and is therefore a smaller. proportion of the elapsed time between contacts (even though that time remains unchanged) and that therefore the quantity of electricity flowing through the relay 11, consisting of a summation of the fragments that flow during contacts of B and B, is less when the amplitude of vibration of B is greater. And when this becomes sufficiently less so that the magnet 11 does not hold its armature 9, current can flow into the magnet 5 and actuate the figure. These periods of flow correspond to the periods when sound is loudest at the diaphragm 13, which ordinarily correspond with the beat of the music.

As the electro-magnet 5 and the bouncing floor 3 do not have ordinarily to sustain the weight of the figure they do not have to overcome its inertia when they leap into motion. They merely move its lower part; but when these are lifted they relieve the supporting spring, and the tension thereof which is thus set free is instantly applied to the lifting of the remainder of the figure. Thus the separating of these forces of support of actuation, con-tributes to the activity of response of the figure and to the amplitude and control of its animation. ,And the response can be further controlled by the spring-which supports the figure. i

I claim:

1. In a mechanically actuated figure wherein a springsuspends the figure, and a bouncing floor'sets the figure into activity; the combination of said spring, engaging the figure at a point a substantial distance below the top of the figure, but above its centre of gravity; the said spring being shaped and mounted with resilience in both vertical and horizontal directions; and said bouncing floor, being mounted for movement around a point which is offset sufiiciently from the plane of that portion of its surface which. engages the figure to cause said portion during its bouncing strokes to move obliquely upward at' a. pronounced angle from the vertical, thereby intermittently engaging the figure, and coacting with the spring to lift and tilt up the figure when so engaging it. e

2. In a mechanically actuated figure,

wherein a spring suspends the figure, and a ing floor after operation is initiated.

3. In an actuated figure having a body with jointed limbs and having a spring support, feet to be engaged, and a bouncing floor to-engage them; the combination therewith of the said feet having a considerable'horizontal extent, and the said floor mounted to have an oblique upward thrust on the feet; the coacting surfaces of the floor and feet having faces with angular variations from the horizontal general line of face, whereby variations in the violence of blow occur, according to relative position at instant of stroke.

4. The combination with a mechanically actuated figure of actuating means therefor comprising a magnet and armature; a floor thereover; a bouncing floor approximately in the plane of the said floor and mounted on the armature beside the portion of floor which is over the magnet; and a support about which the armature moves to and from the magnet, located below the magnet and on the other side of the magnet from where the bouncing floor section is, the bouncing floor being on an extension of the armature, which extension runs up beside the winding of the magnet, whereby the stroke of the end ofsaid extension, to and fro about said point of support, is oblique with respect to the axis of said magnet and with respect to the plane of the floor.

5. A mechanically actuated figure, wherein a spring suspends the fig ire; and a bouncing floor, intermittently engaging the figure, and coacting'with the spring to lift a part of the figure when so engaging it, sets the figure into activity; there being-an electro-mag net and a vibratory armature thereof connected with said floor; said armature having a projecting spring arm actuated by and with the armature, on the projecting part of which spring is a vibration-retarding weight whereby the vibratory period of the armature becomes more nearly of the order of frequency period of the figure and its tating the said dancing figure;-a self-closing switch in the circuit of said electro-magnet; a master circuit having means to open said switch, by flow of current through the master circuit; an acoustic sound-detecting device, responding tremulously when afiected by yibratory force: and, in the said master circuit, a make and break device of which the said tremulous device is a part; the whole being organized with the make and break device constituting a valve reducing the flow in the .master circuit so much, when the detecting device is in a state of tremor and thereby operating the make and break, that the said switch opening means therein fails to open the switch; whereby the said dancing figure is continuously agitated by the first mentioned electro-magnet and armature during such period of tremor.

7. Incombination, an element and mounting means therefor permitting said element to be continuously in agitation; an electromagnet with vibratory armature for agitating said element; a self-closing switch in the circuit of said electro-magnet; a master circuit having means for opening said switch by flow of current in said master circuit; a vibration detecting device, responding tremulously when affected by vibratory force; and, in said master circuit, a make and break device of which the said treinulous device is a part; the whole being organized with the make and break device constituting a valve inthe inaster circuit reducing the flow therein so much, when the detecting device is in a state of tremor, that the said means in the master circuit fails to open the switch; whereby the said element is continuously actuated during the period while the detecting device is in a state of tremor.

STRATFORD B. ALLEN. 

